National Republican., 1887-05-30
Tho National Drill,

Tho National Drill.
To-day closes the National Drill, the
most successful effort ever made to collect
together a body Of distinctly representa-
tive men, who should stand highest in the
ranks OF the trained citizen soldiery of the
nation.
A few months ago some Of the enterprls
ing citizens Of the national capital con-
ceived the idea that 1t was possible, and
certainly would be proper, to gather to-
gether at the nations capital large num-
Der OF the best trained companies of the
national militia to remain In camp for q
week or more and show to all the people
of the nation how skillfully they were
trained as soldiers.
An executive committee was formed, the
citizens responded liberally, and the money
10 pay prizes, amounting to over $26, 900,
was put in bank, with guarantee OF suffi-
cent funds to pay all expenses in excess Of
the prizes.
The executive committee then made
known their plans to the country, and set
the date of the meeting from the 23d to
the 30th Of May inclusive. More than hun.
dred military organizations notified the
committee of their intention to attend and
compete for the prizes. These acceptauces
Of the invitation came from nearly every
state and territory.
The first serious trouble that intervenel
to affect the plans Of the committee was
the passage of the interstate commerce law.
That, by preventing discrimination Of rates
in their favor, prevented quite a number of
troops, and much larger number of cltl
zens, from attending the drill.
Yet in spite of this, at the appointed time
over eighty companies OF soldiers, coming
from twenty-eight states and territories,
went into quarters at Camp George Wash
ington, and thirty-seven of these companies
competed for the prizes offered.
So finely drilled body of men was never
before assembled on this continent. Sol
diers from Maine and from Washington
territory, from Michigan and the extreme
Of Texas, were camped together at the base
of the Washington monument, each com
pany the pride of the section from which /.
GENE.
Unfortunately 1t was given out before
the drill began that President Cleveland
and his wife would leave Washington early
in the week of the drill, to be absent fol
some time, this time for his vacation being
selected by the President in consequence Of
the apparent necessity for an early meeting
Of Congress. This announcement pre-
vented large number Of people from the
peighboring states coming to the city.
The people OF Washington, with theii
accustomed liberality, attended the drill In
such numbers as to render 1t financially
successful enough to pay all the expenses
as II was successful In every other way
And this, Notwithstanding the fact that
during four Of the six days devoted to tht
drill heavy rains fell, preventing the at
tendance of thousands.
From some unexplainable reason ou
neighboring city, Baltimore, which alwayi
depends, and successfully, upon Washing
ton in aid Of its enterprises, failed to send
soldier and almost visitor to see the drill
PerhGpsits soldiers were frightened by thu
color line, while Virginia, instead of being
so, sent OF its militia whole brigade, 10
Guiding both white and colored soldiers
and its governor to honor the camp witt
his presence. All honor to the "Old Do
minion" and the gallant Gov. Lee.
Notwithstanding all drawbacks, and
there were number, one Of them beinl
the failure Of the deficiency bill, by sixty
minutes, containing the appropriation b
make the medals which, besides the money
prizes, were to be given the successful com
petitors, the National Drill was q CRANE
success from the opening to the closing
day, one Of its greatest successes being
that which brought on Sunday that wonder
ful pulpit orator to address an audience Of
nearly twenty THOUSAND people, who
listened to the grand sermon delivered OF
the drill ground by the Rev. 4. De Witt
Talmage.
To-day the prizes will be delivered by tn,
general of the army to the winners, and no
repudlated, as was the case In another city
last year.
The drill was national one, because
soldiers from nearly every state participated
in 1t, and because Congress recognized 1t BY
ordering medals TO commemorate 1t, and
though the bill containing the order failed
TO become law for want OF time, 1t will
not fail in the Fiftieth Congress.
The executive committee deserves grea